Shrewdest Faction: Squad Treble, #2

By Kay Bennson

The simulation was only the beginning…

 

When the Chi Rho Iota Corporation announces that the second round of War Game XRI will be at a different school, Cassie Routhier and her squad are convinced it's game over for Settontown High. Their new opponents have an entire squad of champions, a group that rules with fear and goes by the Shrewdest Faction. The more Cassie learns about them, the more happy she is to be injured and watching everyone else from the sidelines.

 

Cassie gets herself in trouble when she overhears something she shouldn't. There's no way she can stand among the Chi Rho Iota Corporation and act like nothing is wrong. When facing the Shrewdest Faction seems like the better choice, Cassie knows there is no going back to the way things were before. She must choose a battle inside the simulation.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kay Bennson
• Release date: Jun 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201585044

Kay Bennson

Kay Bennson is from Northwestern Connecticut where she lives with her husband and son. She doesn't remember a time where she wasn't writing stories (in fact, some of her best ideas were forged in high school classes and at part time jobs). When she isn't writing, she enjoys video games, figure skating, gymnastics, and fanfiction.

Book preview

Chapter One

I sat apprehensive in an examining room. Even though the hospital I currently waited in was painted cheery warm colors to distract kids from realizing where they were, my stomach felt queasy. My leg was out of the cast that had been molded to it in a trigonometry classroom. I was trying to be hopeful that this second opinion would bring good news, but I wasn’t holding my breath. It still hurt too much.

Wilmington Children’s Hospital was about an hour away from my home in Settontown. Its orthopedic and sports medicine practice came well recommended and you better believe that my mother scoured every website, dance parent forum, and yellow page ad. There was a perfectly good orthopedic place five minutes from our house, but after everything that had happened, I think my mother wanted not only the very best because of my dancing future, but she and the rest of my town felt violated by War Game XRI and the Chi Rho Iota Corporation. The mysterious group had been thrust into our lives on the premise of a federally mandated war simulation to prepare the youth for a worst-case scenario. Going to Wilmington was almost like a fresh start.

The doctor, Elias Martin, was well known for sports medicine. Dr. Martin had been mentioned over and over again when my mother did her hunt for a second opinion. Usually it took someone months to get in to see him the first time. All my mother had to do was say War Game XRI and I was on the books for the following day, I’d become a sensation overnight. Everyone wanted to meet the girl who had won it all, the example of a true athlete. Before a week ago, I hadn’t considered myself an athlete. That was before the Chi Rho Iota Corporation brought War Game XRI into my life and messed everything up.

He looked at my file with a furrowed brow. I know I heard all about this on the news, but give me your interpretation of how this happened again?

I skidded into a wall sliding past my opponent in the final battle of a war simulation, I replied, so sick of telling the story. I left out how I’d been choked, stomped on, and pushed out a three-story window. I didn’t want to overwhelm him as much as I didn’t want to remember.

The doctor grimaced as he looked at the x-rays we had just taken. Well, the good news is that despite getting this fixed in a high school math classroom, the procedure was a success. It also won’t be a career ending injury.

What’s the bad news?

You’re definitely not going to be Clara in the Nutcracker.

I heaved a sigh. I know I should just accept this, but it’s hard. For the first time during the appointment, I remembered that my father was in the examining room with me. He placed a comforting hand over mine. I was so grateful that he’d taken me to the appointment and not my mother. We were too similar, and she would have been voicing the snark that I was trying to desperately keep in.

Everyone I’ve talked to has said I’m justified in my bitterness. A strange corporation had influenced our alarmist government, I was forced to show allegiance to a place I’d only attended for a few months and participated in something that only gave us limited truths. What they deemed harmless wasn’t on so many levels. Pre-existing conditions didn’t matter. Situations were changed to potentially alter the outcome. Everyone said they felt bad and that they pitied me, but they didn’t have a broken leg, their dancing dreams hadn’t been put on hold.

Some people also toyed around with the words ‘post-traumatic stress disorder.’ My mother was one of these people. Any time we would disagree on anything, like not returning my childhood friend’s phone calls or my new boyfriend, she’d tell me I was misbehaving because of my PTSD. I was ready to live in another country and it had only been a week. My father had tried to assure me that my mother was just worried about me, but I had a bag packed ready to stay at my friend Aaron’s house and I was not afraid to use it.

Well, the doctor said, snapping me back to my senses, I wish I had better news about dance, but I can give you a walking boot so you won’t be wheelchair bound. Your new cast can be black, red, or pink.

Black, I said dramatically. Like the uniforms of the Chi Rho Iota idiots that did this to me. The only time I agreed with my mother’s PTSD idea was when I saw their black fatigues in my dreams. I’d always been one to have nightmares or stress dreams when times got tough, but since round one had ended they had become almost a nightly ritual.

About half an hour later, I had hobbled around enough in my robo-boot to satisfy my doctor, and my father and my black casted self were back on the road. I pulled out my phone as soon as the hospital was out of sight.

Come get me in forty-five minutes? I need coffee as black as my soul...and my new cast...

Not even a minute later my phone buzzed. Aaron was the type that always had his phone on him. Sorry. How big is your soul? Medium sized or large? Where’s B?

The B he meant was Brayden. I’d gone from crushing on the junior to becoming his girlfriend in the middle of the simulation. In one week he’d gone from a faceless person my brother teased me about to my mother’s mortal enemy. So much so, that my neighbor Aaron was second to Jesus. I went to a Catholic school through the eighth grade. Jesus was pretty important in the Routhier house. The enemy you know, even if it’s the class cutting, partying in the woods kind, was apparently better than the enemy you don’t.

Indoor track meet. LARGE!

Got it, Aaron replied. Say love you to your mom for me.

I rolled my eyes and tucked the phone back into my sweatshirt pocket. Dad, if I hang out with Aaron before Mom gets home, can we just pretend I was home and have an uneventful night?

My father’s eyes remained on the road as he thought it over. Where are you going?

Java Jones.

God, you two love that crap coffee. My father chuckled. Go ahead, just don’t do anything stupid. I love Chris Markinson, but his unsupervised sons make me nervous sometimes.

Aaron and his El Camino were waiting for me in my driveway and I think he was surprised to see me almost walking as he had gotten out to help me. He greeted my father politely before we pulled onto the street and I slumped in my seat.

Coffee’s in the cup holder, Aaron said as he played with the radio.

You got it already? I replied impressed.

Yeah. I’m taking you somewhere else.

"Unless it’s Tijuana where I never have to hear the words War Game XRI or Chi Rho Iota again, I’m still probably going to be on Settontown’s suicide watch."

Aaron smirked. He knew full well that I hadn’t been left alone in a week. If it wasn’t the press or Owen and his Super Children making me pretend I loved being Round One champ, someone from the board of education or the psychology department was ‘checking in.’

Instead, he cranked the radio up and a top forty song blared through the speakers. It was this singer that had been a kids’ television star that had recently decided to branch out. I stared in awe as Aaron recited the rap section perfectly.

Aaron Markinson, you never cease to amaze me.

My phone made a noise telling that I’d received an email and I groaned incoherently when I saw that it was from the Chi Rho Iota Corporation.

What is it?

I cleared my throat as I began to imitate Owen’s accent. "You and one guest are cordially invited to a masquerade party at the Chi Rho Iota Corporation headquarters off Rehoboth Beach. All champions will be present to discuss what worked in round one, what didn’t, and how War Game XRI is making the world a better place."

Aaron practically spit out his coffee. What dream world do they live in?

I had never even heard of the Chi Rho Iota Corporation before a week ago and they had a headquarters on an island by one of the top vacation destinations in our state? The more I learned about Owen and his corporation, the more I regretted it.

Permission to crash a party? Aaron asked. Brayden can be your plus one, but I have to know what’s going on at their secret lair.

You want to go? I asked incredulously. I have to go and I can think of a million things I’d rather do. I heaved a sigh. I know Brayden is going to be on board with it though. After everything we’d been through in the simulation, he’d become borderline obsessed with finding out the truth. So far, he hadn’t found out much.

Aaron pulled onto a road that I wasn’t familiar with and eventually parked in a dirt lot. I studied the path that led into the brush before I looked at him confused.

You know I have a broken leg, right?

He smirked. I had planned on wheeling you up there, but I guess I’ll carry you.

When we got out, he crouched down so he could give me a piggyback ride and I tried my best to not choke him as I held on tightly. Seriously, where are you taking me?

I felt Aaron’s chest rumble as he laughed. A place that you are too pure for.

What? I said pretending to be offended. It was a running joke between us that I was squeaky clean because of my Catholic school upbringing and he was the opposite. Aaron was known for being wild and reckless, but one thing I adored about him was that he didn’t judge or push me.

They have parties up here. But I actually think it’s most beautiful at sunset. He gently set me down as we reached the top. I thought it would cheer you up.

I limped my way as close to what appeared to be a ledge as my friend recommended. Cars whizzed by on the highway below us, but further on the town of Settontown, my sleepy Settontown, was there in all its glory. At least it used to be sleepy. Lately, news crews and mysterious corporations liked to frequent it.

This is incredible.

Imagine what it’s like in the summer.

I hadn’t noticed the November chill until he mentioned it. It just felt so nice to do something normal after everything I’d dealt with the past week.

I was distracted when I heard the sound of a lighter trying to ignite. I spun on my good foot to see Aaron attempting to light a cigarette.

What are you doing?

He started to puff once he got it to catch. What does it look like I’m doing?

I should have been used to this. Aaron had rebelled and acted out ever since his mother and father had separated and she became a ghost in his life. That’s why he knew this overlook was a party spot and he got detentions for mouthing off. This was a new chapter in his book of crying out for attention.

Even though I had my robo foot, I lunged for his pocket and was shocked when he didn’t fight me. There was nearly a full pack and I stared at it for a moment before I chucked it with all my might off the edge of the overlook. Several seconds later, I heard a clunk as the pack of cigarettes must have hit a car.

Um, those were Matt’s, Aaron mumbled. Matt was his oldest brother.

Aaron Markinson, I don’t care if they were the President of United States’ cigarettes. Stop being stereotypical! I found myself pointing and yelling. You are a good boy! Stop trying to be something you’re not!

Aaron dropped the cigarette on the ground and put it out with his foot. Okay, okay! He put his hands up.

I know you never judge me, I said, feeling terrible. Blame the post-traumatic stress disorder.

Instead of being mad at me, he wrapped me in a hug. I felt his cheek against my head. Thank you for giving a crap about me. It’s nice that somebody does.

We stood up there until the sun began to set and I knew my mother would be getting home. I had a feeling that spending the afternoon over a highway would not go over well. We were heading back to his car and driving in no time at all.

My phone began to ring and I braced myself for my mother. What was waiting for me almost felt worse.

Jared Allen’s smiling face was displayed on the screen. Jared was my best friend Kara’s older brother. I’d known him longer than Aaron and most of the people I danced with. Just like everything else in my life, last week things got dramatic between us. Apparently, Jared saw me differently than I saw him.

I had spent a good part of my life being in Jared’s wake. He came into my life when I was five years old and in the same kindergarten class as Kara. Growing up, he had been the dragon slayer to my fire wielding princess. I was over at his house at least once a week. I considered the boy the older brother I’d never had for almost ten years.

Then a week ago, he’d made it weird. Maybe it had been because we were all in the same school again or that being forced to fight in a governmentally mandated war simulation made him feel really vulnerable, but he’d been overly protective, crass, and confessed his love for me multiple times. I had truly hoped he’d known me long enough to respect my feelings or the fact that I’d liked Brayden since my freshman year had officially started. We fought so much, and Jared had been so outraged over my new relationship with Brayden that he’d actually lashed out and pushed me down. I could have had him suspended or even in trouble with the police, but I just couldn’t. In my head he was still the platinum blond boy that wore a St. Lawrence uniform. That didn’t mean I still wasn’t furious with him though.

He’d try to call me every day, even after I told Kara to tell him to stop. He’d waited for me after church Saturday night. I knew he wanted to apologize or plead his case, but I wasn’t ready. It was like the cast on my leg, the very thought of it made my mood darken.

Talk me out of throwing this phone out the window, I ordered Aaron.

Don’t throw your phone out the window, he all but parroted. He held out his hand while his eyes were on the road. Give it to me. I tentatively handed the boy the phone and watched him text and drive at the same time. Somewhere my mother’s danger senses were tingling. Here you go, he said. You might be off the hook for tonight.

I looked down and couldn’t help but smile at what Aaron had written.

The lady requests that you cease from calling her until further notice. She will notify you when she deems an appropriate time. Luke warm regards, Aaron Christopher Markinson the first.

Luke warm regards? I asked. You’re just going to piss him off more.

Sure enough, Jared answered back with multiple messages, telling me he was sorry and how he deserved a chance just like Brayden, completely ignoring that Aaron said to stop. This time I slid open the El Camino’s back window and threw my phone onto its bed.

Shall we discuss my dance career while I have you? I despaired, fighting the tears welling up on my eyelashes.

No, he replied. Let’s play a game. Let’s sing a song, only I’ll sing the girl parts and you can sing the boy ones.

I cocked an eyebrow at him. Are you serious?

He nodded and settled on a duet featuring two European singers with less than stellar English accents. Despite my reservations, we were laughing to the point of tears by the time we were in my driveway and the fact that my mother wasn’t home yet was an added delight.

Thank you, I said as he helped me out and we retrieved my phone. You’ve always been my hero when I feel like I’m losing my mind.

Aaron smiled at me softly. Likewise. Every now and then Aaron’s carefree expression would falter. He’d been doing it for as long as I’d known him. You’d ask if he missed his mother and he’d confidently say he was fine, but his face would tell you otherwise. His face was betraying him, but I didn’t have it in me to ask why. After Jared, almost dying, and a broken leg, anything else would destroy me. I’m going back to school tomorrow. Besides the day of the pep rally and dance I’d been resting at home.

He was back to his cheery self. I’ll be here at seven.

I hobbled in, letting my father and Shane help me look like I’d been home the entire time. It didn’t matter because my mother came home, saw the new cast, and had a tirade anyway.

I’m Googling if it’s possible to sue over something governmentally mandated.

I’m going to school tomorrow, I called.

You’re going to own that school when I’m done with it! she yelled back.

When my phone buzzed and it was Brayden, my heart fluttered. We’d been official for a week and I still freaked out. I wondered if that would ever change.

Fourth out of fifty kids for sprinting. Eighth out of seventy-five for the one thousand meters.

I typed back excitedly. That’s amazing. Going to school tomorrow.

That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. What’s the verdict?

Very broken, but not career ending.

That’s great. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Even though I had been to school since winning the first round of War Game XRI, I hadn’t been since I fought with Jared at the dance. I shouldn’t have been nervous, yet here I was.

Yup. Ready or not.

Chapter Two

The bus wasn’t the easiest option since breaking my leg, so I had planned on going to school with Aaron. That was before my mother got upset about my new cast and told me she was planning on taking me before she dropped Shane off at St. Lawrence instead. I think she was planning on yelling at whoever would listen.

The next morning I woke up to the sounds of frustration. I was awake for less than ten minutes before I was texting Aaron anyway. I could hear my mother stomping around and huffing irritated sighs and I knew there was no way that we’d make it to school without getting into an argument.